OCHLA: Ohio Legislative Update

Human Trafficking Passed the Senate – Now Goes to the House of Representatives for a Vote The Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice met and unanimously passed Senate Bill 235 – a bill to create a felony of trafficking in persons. The full Senate then passed the bill during the full Senate session on Wednesday.

The bill now goes to the House where it will be heard in the House Criminal Justice Committee tomorrow, Tuesday December 7, 2010 at 4:15 P.M. S.B. 235 will create a stand-alone felony in line with the Trafficking in Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and the Department of Justice’s definition. (At this time, 44 other states have a human trafficking definition and stand-alone felony similar to the TVPA and DOJ definition.) SB 235 will help Ohio become more successful at apprehending and prosecuting traffickers.

Supporters rally for Bernard Pastor’s release in deportation case – Counterprotesters show up, too Despite a 2-inch snowfall and 33-degree temperatures, more than 100 supporters of a Reading High School graduate rallied Saturday for his release from federal detention and in favor of immigration legislation that could aid his cause. Protesters, ranging from Bernard Pastor’s high school friends to religious leaders to students and faculty from Northern Kentucky University, prayed and sang at two locations. They first assembled at 11 a.m. on the track at Reading Memorial Stadium, where Pastor played as a member of Reading’s soccer team. They then proceeded in an automobile caravan to the Butler County Jail in Hamilton. Pastor, 18, was taken to that federal holding site after a minor car accident Nov. 17 in Springdale. “We pray in solidarity with Bernard and all of the Hispanic community to fix a broken (immigration) system,” said the Rev. Jorge Ochoa, a priest at St. Charles Church in Carthage. Pastor’s deportation process was delayed for at least three weeks on Nov. 23, after two members of Congress from Ohio intervened on his behalf with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Cincinnati Enquirer. 12/04/2010.

Florida’s Governor-Elect Scott wants people stopped and asked if they’re here legally or not Gov.-elect Rick Scott said he hadn’t seen the immigration bill recently filed by Sen. Mike Bennett, but he’s supportive of the concept of stopping citizens to ask them to show identification. Scott, who was in Washington D.C. today meeting with the Florida congressional delegation and will meet with the President Obama tomorrow, along with other newly-elected governors, said he first wants the federal government to “secure our borders.” “We need to come up with an immigration policy that works for the country,” he said. “Finally, if you’re stopped in our state — no different than if you’re asked for your ID — you should be able to be asked if you’re legal or not.” Bennett believes it will not lead to racial profiling because law enforcement may not stop people solely on the suspicion they are in the country illegally. Miami Herald. 12/03/2010